Ball winding machine



June 1942. B. BOGOSLOWSKY 2,287,859

BALL WINDING momma: 7

Filed March 25,, 1940- 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ,Bofis fioyoslowsky E h MQ A oi rzsvs 7 June 30, 1942". I B. BOGOSLOWSKY 2,287,859

BALL WINDING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 a? J 0? mvizmon Boris B070sZ0w5/v7 6%, 'fM'zA Q R EYS ATTO June 30, 1942. B, BQGQSLQWSKY 2,287,859

BALL WINDING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1940 6 sheets-she t 3 Q to INVENTOR ,Borl-s Bryoslowsky g m ATTORN Ys June 30, 1942. BQGOSLQWSKY 2,287,859"

BALL WINDING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Bowls fmyoslowsfi June so, 1942. a O LOWW 2,287,859

BALL WINDING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE BALL WINDING MACHINE Boris Bogoslowsky, New York, N. Y. I Application March 25, 1940, Serial No. 325,677

15 Claims.

This invention relates to winding of balls by winding a length of strand about a rotating core.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved method of and a machine for winding such a ball and avoiding frictional or sliding movements between the ball and working surfaces supporting the ball. Another object is to provide an improved method of and a ma-.

chine for giving a ball winding rotation and simultaneously giving it components of rotation about two other axes at an angle to the winding axis and intersecting it at the geometric center of the ball.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine which is simple in construction and operation and which may be operated at high speed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may appear hereinafter. 7

One embodiment of the invention selectedfor purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of "the machine with certain parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation partly in vertical section showing the principal working parts of the machine;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of in horizontal section;

Figure 5 is a left side elevation of the same;

the same, partly Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a further enlarged vertical section through the winding heads;

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of Figure '7; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating certain winding steps of the machine.

Referring to the drawings (Figures 1 and 2), the machine is supported on a base frame I on which is mounted a motor 2 which furnishes the drive for the machine. On top of the base frame are upright standards 3 in which is journaled for rotation a main drive shaft 4, driven from the motor 2 through pulleys 5 and 6 and a belt 1.

Above the shaft 4 and parallel thereto are two oppositely disposed tubular shafts 8 respectively supporting winding heads 9 and 9 oppositely disposed and adapted to hold therebetween a ball at being wound. The shafts 8 are not only rotatably mounted but also are slidable urged toward one another by means of a dead weight It acting through suitable toggle mechanism. The winding heads 9, 9' are given winding rotation by the rotation of the shafts 8 and are also given a planetary rotation about separate axes carried by the shafts 8, but eccentrically spaced therefrom, to give the ball In a rotating motion about an axisgenerally oblique to the axis of the shafts 8. It is here-noted that the winding machine-illustrated in Figure 1 has two duplicate counter parts or halves and in the following description only one half will be described in detail.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4 for a more detailed description of the mechanism, drive shaft 4 in addition to running in hearings in the standards 3 runs in bearings 50, mounted in a double standard 5 I, 5Ia extending upwardly from the frame 3. Secured to the shaft 4 and mounted between the double standards 5|, 5|a is a drive gear 52 suitably held from lateral motion with respect to the inner races of the bearings 50 by means of washers 53. Gear 52 meshes with and drives a gear 54 mounted above it. The gear 54 is secured as by screws to a sleeve 55 mounted for rotation in bearings 56, supported in the double standards 5l, Ma. The sleeve 55, thus driven-by the gear. 54, is s'uffici'entlydong axis wiseto give firm support to the tubular shaft 8 which is mounted for sliding movement in the sleeve 55. Rotation of the sleeve 55 drives the shaft 8 through longitudinal keys 51 mounted in the shaft and engaging key-ways 58 provided in the sleeve 55. Thus both axial and rotational movement of the shaft 8 is provided for with this construction.

Mounted on the inner end of the shaft 8 and for rotation therewith is a bracket 12 which supports the winding head-9. As previously stated, the core or ball It] being wound is held between the winding heads 9, 9 b a suitable compressive force sufiicient to hold the ball in place between the winding heads and to cause it to turn with them to unwind the elastic strand l3 from its spool l4 against the frictional resistance applied windings are applied, the tubular shafts 8 are axially with respect to their supports and are 55 urged toward one another by means of the dead,

weight II, The weight II is suspended by means of wire links 60 from toothed segments 5| which mesh with each other as shown in Figures 3 end of a lever 82, which in turn is mounted on and secured to a shaft 83 rotatably supported in bearings 64-85 extending from the outer standard 5| of the double standard. 5|, 5la.

Referring to Figure 6, secured to and extending upwardly from the shaft 63 are two arms 86 engaging at their upper ends outwardly extending pins 81 set in a central disc 88 concentric with the shaft 8 but free from rotation with re spect thereto. This disc 68 forms part of a thrust bearing generally indicated at 89 through which the force of the dead weight II is transmitted to the shaft 8, and includes also end discs 18 and II rigidly secured to the shaft. Ball bearings support the center disc 88 between the end discs 18 and H. With this construction the weight ll pulling down on the meshing toothed segments 8| operates through the lever 62, shaft 83, and

arms 66 to urge the central disc 68 toward the center of the machine, and this force exerted by the disc 68 is transmitted through the ball bearings to the end disc II and so to the shaft 8. The toothed segments 6| serve to keep the heads 9, 9 centrally located with respect to themachine.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the strand l3 of material to be wound on the ball is preferably pulled from the supply spool I4 by the rotation of the ball and is led through a forked guide member 12, mounted on the frame I, and located so that its guide slot I3 between the forks is fairlyclose to the ball. Any suitable strand tensioning device may be employed, as for example,

a pulley 14 (Figure 2) interposed between the 1 supply spool and the guide 12, rotation of said pulley being restrained by a brake band 15 having a weight 16 suspended therefrom.

The parts of the machine heretofore described would, without more parts, produce rotation of the ball about a single axis, i. e., the winding axis which is the axis of rotation of the shafts 8, and successive convolutions applied by such rotation, would be superimposed and would extend around the ball in an equatorial plane at right angles tothe axis of rotation.

Accordingly, additional means are provided for giving the ball a component of rotation about an axis that is at an angle to the winding axis and intersects the winding axis at the center of said ball. Such means includes means for rotating the winding heads 9, 9 respectively, about eccentric axes; parallel to the winding axis and oppositely disposed with respect thereto.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, for this purpose shaft 4 carries a gear 11 which meshes with and drives gear 18 carried on a shaft 19 which is coaxial with and is supported by suitable bearings in the tubular shaft 8. Shaft 19 is free to rotate within shaft 8 and extends through slot 88 provided in the bracket [2. Mounted on the end of the shaft 19 and within the slot 88 is a gear 8|. This gear meshes with and drives a gear 82 mounted on eccentric shaft 83 journaled in the bracket 12 and on which is mounted the winding head 8.

It will be observed that the axis of rotation of the winding head 8, i. e., the axis of shaft 83, is off-set from the axis of rotation of the bracket l2, i. e., the axis of shaft 8. Referring to Figures 3 and '7, the amount of off-set of the axis 83 of winding head 9' is the same as that of winding head 9 but is diametrically opposite that of winding head 8. It results, therefore, that when the winding heads are rotated on their shafts 83 in the same direction, the ball, being engaged between the opposed surfaces of the winding heads will be rotated thereby, the path of engagement with the disks being an arcuate path as indicated by arrow 84, Figure 8. The points of contact between the ball and winding heads always remain in the axis of the shafts 8, however, so that except for its components of rotation the ball remains fixed in space. v

Theoretically, if the ball had only point contact with the winding heads as thus rotated, the ball would be rotated about an axis generally perpendicular to the winding axis and parallel to the faces of the heads. Actually, however, since the ball has more than point contact, the rotation of the winding heads on their shafts 83 causes the ball to rotate (Figure 9) about an axis a:-r which is obliquely arranged with respect to the winding axis, as indicated in Figure 9. The amount of the obliqueness depends on the diameter of the ball and the amount of eccentric displacement of the shafts 82 from the winding axis.

The continuous coveringrotation of the ball about the axis a::z: combined with the winding rotation about the winding axis, causes the strand to wind on the ball a series of convolutions that form a belt 85 around the ball. The belt is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 9. This method of winding has the advantage of distributing about circles 88 the points of crossing of the successively wound convolutions 81.

The width of the belt 85 can be varied by varying the spacing of the axis 82 from the shaft 8. Further, the spacing between succeeding convolutions 81 can be variedby varyingthe relationship between the number of winding revolutions per covering revolution of the ball as produced by the eccentric rotations of the winding heads. Preferably the relationship is such as would cover the ball, i. e., complete the belt 85, as rapidly as desired without producing such wide spacing of the convolutions as, will introduce forces that would cause the strand to slip off the surface of the ball. This relationship, 1. e. the number of winding revolutions per covering revolution, is, of.course, determined by the speed of rotation of the shafts 8 and the speed with which the winding heads 9, 9' cause he ball to rotate. This latter speed is determined by the speed of eccentric rotation of the winding heads 9, 9' and by the distance separating the eccentric axes of the winding heads and by the diameter of the ball.

In the present embodiment these relationships are chosen so that the ball is given approximately one covering revolution'for seven Winding rotations. This is accomplished by making the spacing between the axes 83 approximately equal to the average diameter of the ball and then driving the shafts 83 so as to make one revolution for each seven revolutions of the shafts 8.

This is accomplished by selecting gears for driving the shafts 8 and 19 such that the gear rotations bear exact integral (whole number) rela" tionships so that the number of revolutions made by the shafts 8 in any given time will be an integral multiple of the revolutions made by the winding head 9 on the-bracket l2 during the same time. Thus, in the preferred embodiment illustrated, the gears 52 and 54 are in the ratio of 1:1, while gears I1, 18 are in the ratio of 6:7. The gears 8| and 82 also have a ratio of 1:1. Therefore, the shaft 8 and bracket l2 will make seven complete revolutions for each single complete revolution of the winding head on the bracket. These gear ratios thus would complete the belt 85 on every seventh revolution of the bracket l2.

Whereas this ratio produces satisfactory balls, higher gear ratios also produce satisfactory ball forms.

Since continued operation of the parts thus far described would merely result in the application of successive belts 85 of convolutions superimposed one above another, which would fail, of course, to produce a spherical ball, means are provided for simultaneously rotating the ball on a third axis 11-11, in order to shift the area being covered by the belt. This axis is perpendicular to the axis of winding rotation and passes through the center. of the ball.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8 in the preferred embodiment illustrated, such means comprise in each winding head a slide 88 mounted for free sliding motion in a groove 89 provided in the winding head, the working surface of the slide being flush with the working surface of the head. The slide extends diametrically across the winding head. Means are provided for moving the slide with respect to the winding head comprising a stud shaft 90 secured to and extending from the slide through a slot 9| in the winding head. The end of the stud shaft 98 carries a roller 92 which is adapted to engage successively the faces of oppositely disposed cams 93 which are mounted on the bracket I2. Thus, since the cams are fixed on the bracket, and since the winding head rotates thereon, the slide 88 will be twice moved crosswise of the winding head in the same relative directiontoward the center of the disc for each complete 1 revolution of the winding head on the bracket.

Although the slide is so arranged on the head that after movement by the cams centrifugal force is sufiicient to return the slide to its original position, additional means are provided to return the slide when thehead is not rotating at. its normal speed. This means comprises a leaf spring-94 secured to the head at one end and engaging a, pin 95 on the slide. The spring is sprung to move the slide independently of the centrifugal force.

The cams 93 on the o, posing winding heads are aligned so that they operate the respective slides simultaneously and in opposite directions, and only when they are in approximate opposite alignment. Further, the cams are so arranged that the slides are not operated until the ball I!) g has rolled onto the slides. Thus, when the slides slide, they roll the ball between them about an axis that is perpendicular to the winding axis and is at an angle to the :r-m axis of covering rota tion, and intersects both the axes at the center of the ball.

After the ball moves off the slides, the slides pass the cams and are free to move back to their original position without reversing the rotation of the ball.

Furthermore, by using gears for driving the shafts 8 and 19 such that the gear rotations bear exact integral relationships, it is possible to adjust the positional relationship between the brackets l2 and the winding heads 8 so that the cams 93 on the bracket heads and the co-acting cam followers 92 on the slides 88 come into operation always at the same positions in the rotation of the brackets l2 and the winding heads 9; Thus, in the present embodiment, this relationship is adjusted so that the slides are operated to slide with respect to the winding heads when the slides are in a vertical position. In other words the slides are operated when their cam followers 92 are near their uppermost and lowermost positions.

by the slides serves to shift the belt area so that successive belt areas are not overlayed and thus the whole ball is uniformly covered by the strand.

Referring to Figure 7, as the slides reach the cams 93, the right-hand slide will move up and the left-hand one will move down, giving the ball a rotation clockwise as viewed in Figure :1. Still referring to Figure '7, after the brackets I2 have made three and one-half revolutions, the slides will reach cams 93a and this time the left-hand slide will move down and the right-hand one will move up to give the ball a counterclockwise rotation. But since by reason of the'three and onehalf revolutionsv ball has been turned end for end, as viewed in Figure 7. The counterclockwise rotation in reality turns the ball in the same direction that the clockwise rotation turned it. Therefore, the double action of the slides serves to turn the ball in the same direction with a discontinuous motion.

The amount of each turning motion imparted to the ball by the motion of the slides may be chosen to produce the kind of covering desired.

- An advantage of the combined rolling motion of the ball produced by the motion of the disc and slides is that exact integral gear ratios between the winding head revolutions and the disc rotations and the operation of the slides are not required, and round satisfactory balls are produced by other than integral relationships above described. In other words, winding machines embodying the present invention are not limited to particular gear ratios as are the known winding machines. Thus, for example, in the present machine the gear ratios between theshafts 8 and 19 to produce ratios above 7 whether the ratios be whole numbers such as 20:1 or 40:1,

or be fractions, such as 13 1, etc.

The three components of rotary .motion are given to the ball without introducing any friction or sliding movement between the ball and the supporting surfaces of the winding heads. Further, two of the motions are continuous.

By providing the working faces of the winding heads with a thin layer of rubber 96, tendency of the ball to slip with respect to the working surfaces is overcome. The machine so constructed may be operated at high speed since the motions, except for the slide, are continuous. And the slides, being relatively light, can be oper ated rapidly.

Iclaim:

1. In a machine for winding a strand to form a spherical body by imparting relative movement between the spherical body and strand feeding means, the combination of two discs having opposing working surfaces resiliently urged toward each other to hold the body therebetween and separately rotatable about respective eccentric parallel axes, means for rotating said discs to roll the body held therebetween along oppositely moving spaced circular paths tangent to a common plane bisecting said body, and means for revolving said discs about a winding axis equigiven the ball by the shaft 8, the

carried by said discs working surfaces of said discs in a direction perpendicular to the said axes at timed intervals during the rotation of said discs about their respective axes.

2. In a machine for winding a strand to form a spherical body by imparting relative movement between the spherical body and strand feeding means, the combination of two discs having opposing workingsurfaces resiliently urged toward each other to hold the body therebetween and separately rotatable about respective eccentric parallel axes, means for rotating said discs to roll the body held therebetween along oppositely moving spaced circular paths tangent to a common plane bisecting said body, means for relatively moving working surfaces of said discs in a direction perpendicular to said axes at timed intervals during the rotation of said discs about their respective axes, and means-for imparting relative winding movement between said strand feeding means and said discs to wind said strand on said spherical body.

3. In a machine for winding a strand to form a spherical body by imparting relative movement between the spherical body and the strand feeding means, the combination of two oppositely disposed discs adapted to hold therebetween the body being wound, diametrical slides respectively flush with the opposing surfaces thereof, means for revolving said discs around a common axis in a predetermined direction of rotation, means for simultaneously rotating said discs about respective eccentric axes and in the same direction of rotation as said predetermined direction of rotation, and means for intermittently simultaneously shifting said slides in opposite directions.

4. In a machine for winding a length of strand under tension about a spherical body, in combination, strand feeding means, oppositely'disposed supports mounted on oppositely disposed aligned shafts adapted to turn said supports continuously in. the same direction about a winding axis,

ous rotating moments about said winding axis and about an axis oblique thereto and intersecting the winding axis at the geometric center of the ball, slide means provided on and extending across each disc, means for operating said respective slide means twice during each revolution of the discs and when said body rolls on to said slides to move the slides in opposite directions cross-wise of said discs, and for returning said slides to retracted position after the body rolls thereoff, said operation of the slides imparting to said body an intermittent moment of rotation in the same direction about a third axis perpendicular to the plane of the first two axes.

6. In a machine for winding a length of strand under tension about a spherical body, in combination, strand feeding means, oppositely disposed supports mounted on oppositely disposed aligned shafts adapted to turn-said supports continuously in-the same direction about a winding axis, oppositely disposed winding discs mounted for continuous rotation on said supports about respective eccentric axes equally offset upon opposite sides of said winding axis, means for urging said winding discs toward each other to hold therebetween the body being wound and to center said ball body with respect to said strand feeding means whereby said discs impart to said body continuous rotating moments about said winding axis and about an axis oblique thereto and intersecting the winding axis at the geometric center of the ball, slide means provided oppositely disposed winding discs mounted for continuous rotation on said supports about respective eccentric axes equally ofiset upon opposite sides of said winding axes, means for urging said winding discs toward each other to hold therebetween the body being wound and to center said ball body with respect to said strand feed whereby said discs impart to said body continuous rotating moments about said winding axis and about an axis oblique thereto and intersecting the winding axis at the geometric center of the ball, slide means provided on each disc, and cam means mounted on said supports for operating simultaneously said slide means crosswise of said discs when said slide means cross said winding axis to give said body a component of rotation about a third axis perpendicular to the plane of the first two axes.

5. In a machine for winding a length of strand under tension about a spherical body, in combination, strand feeding means, oppositely disposed supports mounted on oppositely disposed aligned shafts adapted to turn said supports continuously in the same direction about a winding axis, oppositely disposed winding discs mounted for continuous rotation on said supports about respective eccentric axes equally offset upon opposite sides of said winding axis, means for urging said winding discs toward each other to hold therebetween the body being wound and to center said-ball body with respect to said strand feed whereby said discs impart to said body continuon each disc, and cam means mounted on said supports for operating said slide means crosswise of said discs when said body rolls on said slide means to give said body a component of rotation about a third axis perpendicular to the plane of the first two axes, first gear means for separately driving said supports, second gear means for separately driving said discs, and the ratios between said first and second gear means being an integer whereby said slide means are operated always at the same points in the rotation and gyration of the winding discs.

'7. A machine for winding a length of elastic strand under tension about a spherical body comprising two oppositely disposed discs mounted for rotation about respective eccentric axes equallyoffset upon opposite sides of a winding axis, means for resiliently urging said discs toward each other to hold therebetween a spherical body being wound, strand feeding means for feeding said strand to said body, moving said body and said strand feeding means to give the two a relative winding movement to wind the strand on said body, and means for rotating said discs about their respective axes to roll the body therebetween to give said ball a component of rotation about an axis, slide means mounted on said discs and means for operating said slides crosswise of said discs when means for relatively strand feeding means, second gear means for rotating said discs about their respective axes, and the ratio between said two gear means being a whole number.

9. A method of winding a strand to form a spherical body comprising the steps of rotating said body with respect to a strand feeding means about an axis, simultaneously imparting to said body a moment of rotation about a second axis oblique to said winding axis, simultaneously giving said body intermittent moments of rotation in the same direction about a third axis intersectin'g said first two axes at the geometric center of the body, and imparting said second and third rotative moments to said body by rolling said body between oppositely moving holding surfaces.

10. A method of winding a strand to form a spherical body comprising the steps of rotating said body about a winding axis while said body is held between two opposing holding plane surfaces, simultaneously rolling the body on said opposing surfaces along respective circular paths of predetermined radii and traveling in opposite directions, and intermittently rolling the 'ball on said respective surfaces radially of said respective circular paths; and feeding an elastic strand under tension to the rotating body.

11. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body, comprising rotating said body about a winding axis while held between two oppositely disposed winding heads, each of said winding heads comprising two relatively movable parts, transferring said body from one pair of opposed parts to another pair of opposed parts while continuing the rotation of said body on the winding axis, and moving said parts to rotate said body on two different axes intersecting the winding axis at the center of the ball, one of said axes being oblique to the winding axis and the other axis being perpendicular to the winding axis.

12. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body, comprising rotating said body about a winding axis while held between two oppositely disposed winding heads, each of said winding heads comprising two relatively movable parts, transferring said body from one pair of opposed parts to another pair of opposed parts while continuing the rotation of said body on the winding axis, rotating said body about a second axis oblique to said winding axis and intersecting said winding axis at the center of the body while said body is held. between one pair of parts, and rotating said body about a third axis perpendicular to said winding axis and also intersecting said winding axis at the center of said ball subsequent to said transfer and while said ball is held between the other pair of parts.

13. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body comprising holding said body between a pair of opposed surfaces, rotating said body on a winding axis while so held, rotating said body on a second axis oblique to said winding axis and intersecting said winding axis at the center of the body by moving said surfaces.

relative to one another, transferring said body to another pair of opposed surfaces while continuing to rotate said body on the winding axis, and rotating said body on a third axis perpendicular to said winding axis and intersecting said winding axis at the center of the body by moving said last named surfaces relative to one another.

14. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body comprising holding said body between a pair of opposed surfaces, rotating said body on a winding axis while so held, rotating said body on a second axis oblique to said winding axis and intersecting saidwinding axis at the center of the body by moving said surfaces relative to one another, transferring said body to another pair of opposed surfaces while continuing to rotate said body on the winding axis, and rotating said body on a third axis perpendicular to said winding axis and intersecting said winding axis at the center of the body by moving said last named surfaces relative to one another, the rotation of said body on each of said axes being always in the same direction.

15. The method of winding a strand to form a spherical body comprising continuously rotating said body about a winding axis, continuously rotating said body about another axis oblique to said winding axis and intersecting said winding axis at the center of said body, and intermittently rotating said body about still another axis perpendicular to said winding axis and intersecting said winding axis at the center of the body.

BORIS BOGOSLOWSKY. 

